Nova Rockafeller

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Nova Rockafeller
Birth nameNova Leigh Paholek
Also known asElle Dirty D,[1] epdMC[1]
Born (1988-07-22) 22 July 1988 (age 35)
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • music video director
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active2006–present
Labels
Websitenovarockafeller.com

Nova Leigh Paholek (born 22 July 1988), known professionally as Nova Rockafeller, is a Canadian independent rapper, singer, songwriter, and music video director.

Early life[edit]

Rockafeller was born in Edmonton,[4] and raised in Jamaica;[2] living there from the ages of 9 to 14[5] after her family started a water sports business.[1] She also briefly lived in Toronto and New York City.[6][7] As a teen, she dropped out of high school and began rapping during a difficult period of her life split between sleeping at the Edmonton Youth Emergency Shelter and living in a series of group homes.[4] She was inspired to start rapping after exploring the online battle rap forums by her then boyfriend.[6]

Career[edit]

Rockafeller grew up surrounded by music as her father and her brother, Terry Paholek, were heavily involved with the Edmonton music scene and had their own home studio.[4] She began rapping at the age of 15 when she was living in a group home.[8][4] The moniker 'Nova Rockafeller' was given to her one night during a party with other rappers, who decided she needed a new name.[6]

In 2011, Rockafeller released her debut album Insufficient Funds, which chronicled six months of her life.[6] In 2012, Rockafeller had her song 'call me (BAT MAN) 347-574-7192' posted on the front of The Pirate Bay during its period as 'The Promo Bay'; the song was available as a free download.[9]

Mercury Records took notice of her, so Rockafeller moved to New York and signed with them.[10] The label would later become Island Records, and, in turn Def Jam.[4] Her relationship with Def Jam ended when the company dropped her without warning after three and a half years. She found out when her landlord said that the company would no longer pay her rent.[8] Prior to the label dropping her, Rockafeller had been working on an album named Accidentally Gangster,[7] which was cancelled.[citation needed]

In 2015, during her time with Def Jam, Rockafeller began to break out into the mainstream with her single "Made in Gold", which reached the Top 20 on Sirius Top Hits.[3] The single was featured in teen comedy film The Duff.[4][11] Her music has also been featured on Siesta Keys, Dancing with the Stars, and Bad Girls Club.[3] That year, she toured with Set it Off and All Time Low,[3][12] as well as performed at SXSW,[13] Riot Fest,[14][15] and the Gathering of the Juggalos.[16] Since her appearance at the Gathering, Rockafeller has been associated with the Insane Clown Posse and the Juggalo movement.[17] She also performed at Violent J's first solo charity tour with Lil Eazy-E.[18]

In 2021, Rockafeller released "Hey You", her first solo single in over 2 years to tease her newest album Scared of Heights.[8] The video received over 250 thousand views within a single day.[19][self-published source?]

Side projects[edit]

In 2012, Rockafeller launched her line of jewellery 'Toys on Chains'.[20][7]

Personal life[edit]

Relationships[edit]

In 2017, Rockafeller began dating Canadian rapper Tom MacDonald. Together, they started the band GFBF and began writing music.[21] When MacDonald wrote 'Dear Rappers' and gained prominence, Rockafeller poured herself into supporting him. She shot and directed all of his music videos after 2017,[citation needed] created his website and was featured on most of his albums, and helped him navigate the music industry away from the pitfalls she experienced.[8]

Influences[edit]

Rockafeller has cited some of her influences as Good Charlotte, Blink-182,[12] Fugees, A Tribe Called Quest, Damian Marley, Weezer, Busta Rhymes, Outkast, Bright Eyes, Nirvana, Die Antwoord, and Meg Myers.[1]

Discography[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

List of studio albums, with selected details
Title Album details
Insufficient Funds
  • Released: 21 September 2011[7]
  • Labels: Self-released
  • Formats: CD, digital download
Scared of Heights
As Far as the Stars (with Tom MacDonald and Brandon Hart)
  • Released: 9 April 2021
  • Labels: Self-released
  • Formats: CD

Singles[edit]

  • "1990s" (2014)
  • "Made in Gold" (2015)
  • "MI YARD" (2016)
  • "Wishing Well" (2018)
  • "Jesus on My Neck" (2018)
  • "Genghis Khan" (2018)
  • "Hey You" (2021)
  • "Did Your Best" (2021)

With Tom MacDonald

  • "Sober" (2020), with Madchild, ft. Nova Rockafeller
  • "Bad News" (2020), with Madchild, ft. Nova Rockafeller
  • "Gang Gang" (2021)
  • "No Good Bastards" (2021), with Nova Rockafeller & Brandon Hart
  • "Church" (2021), with Brandon Hart ft. Nova Rockafeller
  • "Heart Emojis" (2021), with Brandon Hart ft. Nova Rockafeller
  • "In God We Trust" (2022), with Adam Calhoun, Struggle Jennings, & Nova Rockafeller
  • "Chrome" (2023), with Adam Calhoun & Nova Rockafeller

With Violent J

With The Wikid One

  • "Find Me" (2017), ft. Nova Rockafeller

With Rp Jesus

  • "Pillz" (2017), ft. GFBF, Nova Rockafeller & Tom MacDonald

With Thrashole

  • "You Want Her" (2018), ft. Blimes, The Buttress & Nova Rockafeller

With D-LinQuint

  • "Superstar" (2019), ft. Nova Rockafeller, Y.I.C & Jay P

With Rachel Geek

  • "Come Talk to Me" (2020), ft. Nova Rockafeller

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Mangum, Sekia (8 April 2015). "Island girl Nova Rockafeller will rock the house at The Pool After Dark Friday". Atlantic City Weekly.
  2. ^ a b c MANGUM, SEKIA (13 April 2015). "Celebrity Sightings: Female rapper Nova Rockafeller spotted at The Pool". Press of Atlantic City.
  3. ^ a b c d Romaker, Ian (28 December 2018). "Strong sentiments against the man: Nova Palohek and Tom MacDonald [GFBF]".
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Nova Rockafeller: from the streets of Edmonton to a record label". CBC. 18 March 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  5. ^ Nova Rockafeller – Shabooty Interview Series. YouTube. Archived from the original on 9 December 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Nova Rockafeller – Videointerview with GermanRhymes.de (english). YouTube.
  7. ^ a b c d "HIP HOP: Nova Rockafeller is sexy and she knows it". GIG CITY. 11 January 2012.
  8. ^ a b c d "Why I quit rapping". NOVA ROCKAFELLER. 6 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Nova Rockafeller on Pirate Bay | Faygoluvers". 10 March 2013.
  10. ^ "Being an Independent rapper vs. a Major label artist". NOVA ROCKAFELLER. 9 May 2020.
  11. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: YAH Chats with Soundtrack Artist Nova Rockafeller at THE DUFF Premiere. YouTube.
  12. ^ a b "After touring with All Time Low, Set It Off, Nova Rockafeller premieres new tracks". Alternative Press. 23 December 2015.
  13. ^ "SXSW Music List No. 9". www.austinchronicle.com.
  14. ^ "Riot Fest Toronto 2015 Lineup Announced Featuring Wu-Tang Clan, Drive Like Jehu, and Rancid -". 1 June 2015.
  15. ^ Exclaim [dead link]
  16. ^ "What's It Like to Be a Female Rapper at Gathering of the Juggalos?". LA Weekly. 28 July 2015.
  17. ^ Seife, Ethan de. "What I'm Watching: The 2015 'Gathering of the Juggalos' Infomercial". Seven Days.
  18. ^ "Violent J • Nova Rockafeller • Lil Eazy-E • Ghetto Blast • rap, hip-hop • Dj Stigmata at Launchpad, Albuquerque". alibi.
  19. ^ Rockafeller, Nova [@NovaRockafeller] (9 January 2021). "Woke up to 250k views on my new music video – "Hey You" 😎 https://t.co/UgoDWSfvcB https://t.co/wXX0S2r5oR" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021 – via Twitter.
  20. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: TOYS ON CHAINS by NOVA ROCKAFELLER. YouTube.
  21. ^ Nyanchama, Venic (24 June 2020). "Tom MacDonald: Bio and net worth in 2020". Tuko.co.ke – Kenya news.

External links[edit]


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